The district of Vega Baja del Segura has continued its steady population rise, strengthening its role as one of the most populated areas in the Valencian Community.
The area has officially surpassed 400,000 inhabitants in 2025, according to the latest figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE).
This milestone confirms Vega Baja as the third most populous district in the region, behind Valencia and its metropolitan area, which exceeds one million residents, and l’Alacantí, home to more than 480,000 people.
At provincial level, Vega Baja now ranks second, clearly overtaking Baix Vinalopó, which includes Elche and municipalities such as Santa Pola. With just over 316,000 residents, Baix Vinalopó now sits well behind Vega Baja’s demographic weight. The contrast is even sharper when compared with districts such as Marina Baixa and Marina Alta, both of which remain below 210,000 inhabitants.
Together, the figures underline Vega Baja’s role as one of the Costa Blanca’s main magnets for permanent and semi-permanent residents.
Discrepancies in population data
The INE figures, which will be officially updated as of 1 January 2026 following national statistical adjustments, often differ from those held by individual town councils. In several municipalities, local registers show significantly higher numbers.
Even so, the official data confirm strong growth across the district, with a year-on-year increase of 2.31%, equivalent to 9,034 new residents. Vega Baja is currently the fastest-growing district in the Valencian Community, second only to Plana Alta.
This is not the first time the district has crossed the 400,000 mark. It previously did so in 2013, but lost more than 50,000 residents between 2013 and 2016 following the economic crisis and a national census clean-up that removed millions of so-called “ghost residents”, particularly in tourist areas. Towns such as Torrevieja, Orihuela, San Fulgencio and Rojales were among those most affected.
Population by municipality in the Vega Baja
- Torrevieja – 98,533
- Orihuela – 84,560
- Pilar de la Horadada – 24,316
- Almoradí – 22,965
- Callosa de Segura – 19,988
- Guardamar del Segura – 18,564
- Rojales – 17,652
- Albatera – 13,566
- San Fulgencio – 9,769
- Catral – 9,600
- Dolores – 8,326
- Redován – 8,283
- Cox – 7,722
- Bigastro – 7,537
- San Miguel de Salinas – 6,542
- Benejúzar – 5,811
- Los Montesinos – 5,786
- Formentera del Segura – 4,868
- Rafal – 4,849
- Algorfa – 3,788
- Benijófar – 3,679
- Granja de Rocamora – 2,728
- San Isidro – 2,337
- Jacarilla – 2,176
- Benferri – 2,099
- Daya Nueva – 1,885
- Daya Vieja – 698
Widespread growth across the district
Growth has been recorded in almost all of Vega Baja’s 27 municipalities. Torrevieja once again led in absolute terms, adding 3,730 residents to reach nearly 100,000, although its town hall claims the real figure is closer to 110,000.
Orihuela grew by 840 residents, largely driven by expansion in its coastal zones. Strong gains were also seen in Guardamar del Segura, Rojales and Pilar de la Horadada, each adding more than 400 residents in a single year.
Inland towns such as Benijófar and Daya Vieja posted the highest percentage increases, reflecting new residential development spreading away from the coast. Only Rafal and Redován recorded slight declines.
Growth and the administrative paradox
The next official population update at the end of 2026 is expected to formally confirm Vega Baja’s position above 400,000 residents. Yet a long-standing issue remains: official figures struggle to reflect real population levels, especially in coastal towns.
Some second-home owners never deregister when they leave, while many long-term foreign residents never register at all. The result is a distorted population base that affects public funding, healthcare provision and education planning, even as local councils must provide services for a much larger real population.
